Surprising a teenager with a trip to Disney (Updated 10/09)
- Thread starter bizeemom4
- Start date
Loving your trip report!!
I'm 17, and I'd love if my mom surprised me with a trip to WDW. That's quite unlikely, considering I live in Brazil and just returned from USA.
I have one question, how did you copy your photopass pictures to your thread?
I can't figure out how to copy them to put here. 
I'm 17, and I'd love if my mom surprised me with a trip to WDW. That's quite unlikely, considering I live in Brazil and just returned from USA.
I have one question, how did you copy your photopass pictures to your thread?
I can't figure out how to copy them to put here. 
Donald is #1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2006
- Messages
- 6,922
Loving your trip report!!
I'm 17, and I'd love if my mom surprised me with a trip to WDW. That's quite unlikely, considering I live in Brazil and just returned from USA.
I have one question, how did you copy your photopass pictures to your thread?
I'm not the OP but maybe I can help. Do you have a CD with your pictures on it? If so, then you need to up-load the pictures to a photo sharing site. (for example Photobucket or the one on the DIS --> there are other sites, but my mind if going blank right now.
) Once you have up-loaded the pictures, copy the "direct link" entry (at least on Photobucket). Next in the post that you want to add the picture to, click on the photo icon (it is the one with the mountains) and then paste in the link that you have just copied.
bizeemom4
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2004
- Messages
- 2,031
This morning is the first morning of the trip that is not initiated by a Mickey wake up call. Our plans for today are to check out, eat breakfast, play our free round of minigolf and checkin at the Wilderness Lodge.
We had packed most everything last night after returning from Magic Kingdom. As today dawned, we leisurely tidied up and got ready to leave the Pop behind. I cannot recall why but we decided that we could schlep the luggage with us on the way to the food court. Let me tell you that the walk is a great deal shorter without four suitcases. And gigantic cinnamon rolls. And that big Coach bag. And a Mickey back back.
We had discovered at the airport that the wheels on both of the large suitcases were broken. Chloe insisted on grabbing them both and carrying them. Chloe and manual labor are like oil and water so it was very out of character for the Princess to insist on strenuous activity! I recognized that this was Chloe working so hard to show me how thankful she was for the trip. She would grab the bags, do a Herculean heave and run 20 steps then slam them back down. Heave and run. Breathe. Breathe. That a girl. Show Mommy how thankful you are for this trip.
It went on like that for about half the distance of the resort until we came upon a gentleman walking towards the food court. He offered to get the bags for Chloe. Initially, we declined and he said "No. Here." Chloe allowed him to carry them and he did aaaaaalll the way to the food court. We thanked him immensely and carried them into the lobby. And down past the checkin desk. And out the side door to bell services....ending up about 200 yards from where the man started carrying our bags. Look at the resort map to the Pop. You can see that we did one, gigantic circle. Ooops. I don't know why I forgot where the luggage service desk was. How could we forget being there at 2 a.m. three days ago?
Luggage dropped off, we went to the food court to get a drink to go with our Cinnamon Rolls. Chloe went thru the line for chocolate milk and I just got a diet coke in my refillable mug *purchased fresh for this trip.* I saw the CM at the register speaking with Chloe while she made her purchase. We walked outside and found an umbrella table and sat. Chloe said that she had told the CM that she liked her pin and the CM said thank you and gave her a brand new Year of a Million Dreams pin. That was nice! Chloe was really happy.
As we were eating, it started to sprinkle just a little but the sky looked dark. We muddled around a bit, trying to decide what we should do. We decided that we didn't want to risk being human lightening rods at the minigolf and just head over to the Wilderness Lodge. Honestly, I think that we were looking for an excuse to go explore the great outdoors.
When I originally started planning this trip, it was to be a counterpart to my husband's annual Memorial Day camping trip. I booked the Wilderness Lodge so that someone in the family would continue the family "tradition" of camping for the holiday.
Chloe and I never really gave this place much thought. Actually, to be perfectly accurate, Chloe and I have every intention of falling short of staying at every single resort on Disney property because we would never stay at "Sports" or "Wilderness." I mean, come on. Nothing about either of those two words appeals to her (us).
How ironic is it that we're skipping today's daily itinerary to rush over to the wild outdoors? We caught the bus to Magic Kingdom, jumped out at the bus station and walked out to the docks to wait for the boat.
We made our way up the dock and into the lobby. I think that I heard a gasp from Chloe but I think that she'll deny it if you ask her. As I made eye contact with a CM, I said in my nicest, practiced "please upgrade me 'cuz I'm a great person in general and especially at Disney" voice that we were here to check in. It was taking a long time because the CM saw that there was something wrong with the package. The dining was not showing up on the reservation and she spent some time trying to get this worked out. I, of course, stayed calm, polite and smiley still hoping for a comp upgrade. I'm greedy. I know. I really was striving to give my DD and I the very best trip possilbe.
Chloe has disappeared with my camera. I missed spending this part of the trip with her because I was busy smiling at the CM behind the desk. Chloe had run off to take pictures of the lobby while I worked out the business at hand. She came back and a different CM asked her about her lanyard. Chloe was still sporting her original, purple Tinkerbell lanyard with two sets of identical pins. When the CM asked her if she wanted to trade, Chloe agreed and picked out a pin.
The CM at the Pop had given her a pin and now at the Wilderness Lodge another one offered to trade pins with her. Later on, Chloe confessed to me that she didn't realize that this is what the lanyard was for. She thought that it was just to hang around your neck and had no idea about pin trading at all. Too be fair, I must admit that I have successfully shielded my children from the whole pin trading phenomenon. When taking trips with THREE or FOUR children, I knew that this little hobby was one that I couldn't (well, didn't want to) support. With just one child to entertain on this trip, I really wanted to spoil her so I got her started with a lanyard. What she doesn't know is that I have been shopping Ebay for weeks at home and have a whole stash of pins that I plan to give her at various points this week.
The CM gets the reservation straight and we are given a card to call later on th check if our room is ready. We decide to grab some lunch while we wait. I get a Chicken salad and Chloe gets Chicken nuggets and the biggest brownie that I have ever seen.
The salad was disappointing but the view wasn't. Chloe and I were instantly flustered and in love with this place. Yes, you heard me. This is an amazing resort. Amazing.
It's raining but Chloe decides that this beautiful pool is too tempting and gets a little swim in while I make trips back and forth in to the phone to check to see if our room is ready.
Chlo's first trip down the slide:
We finally have a room and Chloe and I take the elevator upstairs. We get off the elevator and thru the hallway looking for our room. I start thinking (the way the room #s are going) that have been given a courtyard room and tell Chloe that. She shouts and we start running, trying to find our room. It's like an Easter Egg hunt and we're looking for the prize egg. We run all the way around the fifth floor and don't find our room. We reverse and run back the opposite direction looking for the room. There it is....on the opposite side of the big picture window looking out over the courtyard. Ok, so it's not a courtyard view room. We open the door and rush over to the window and open the curtains and see.....TREES. At the Wilderness Lodge. How ironic. I look to the left and off in the distance is the top of the Great Ceremonial House at the Polynesian. I can't see Magic Kingdom but I guess that it's way over to the left of where we are standing out of sight to us.
Chloe calls for bell services to bring us our luggage. We'd like to multitask and have the luggage delivered while we are out at the Animal Kingdom for our fun at Extra Magic Hours. Chloe rolls her eyes and announces (use your spoiled princess voice) "They won't bring the luggage unless we're in our room, MOM!!!" I tell her let them know that we will wait for the luggage and they should bring it up. She tells them and I decide to pass the time enjoying a good book.
I'm reading the section on the Wilderness Lodge and trying to figure out where in the lodge we are. PLEASE do not laugh but I don't know if this is the standard view that you get with a standard view room or if we have indeed been upgraded from standard to woods view.....yes, I see woods but are there better woods than others? All trees are equal, but some are more equal than others or so I've heard.
About five minutes later, there's a knock at the door and it's Bell Services! Cannot believe how fast that was. We ask the bellman "Which side of the resort is Magic Kingdom?" He says that it's straight ahead of us outside of the balcony and that we should have a perfect view of Wishes! Are you serious?! That's fantastic! I wonder if that's listed in my book and is that a standard view or a wood's view?
Next up: Not so magical Extra Magic Hours
We had packed most everything last night after returning from Magic Kingdom. As today dawned, we leisurely tidied up and got ready to leave the Pop behind. I cannot recall why but we decided that we could schlep the luggage with us on the way to the food court. Let me tell you that the walk is a great deal shorter without four suitcases. And gigantic cinnamon rolls. And that big Coach bag. And a Mickey back back.
We had discovered at the airport that the wheels on both of the large suitcases were broken. Chloe insisted on grabbing them both and carrying them. Chloe and manual labor are like oil and water so it was very out of character for the Princess to insist on strenuous activity! I recognized that this was Chloe working so hard to show me how thankful she was for the trip. She would grab the bags, do a Herculean heave and run 20 steps then slam them back down. Heave and run. Breathe. Breathe. That a girl. Show Mommy how thankful you are for this trip.
It went on like that for about half the distance of the resort until we came upon a gentleman walking towards the food court. He offered to get the bags for Chloe. Initially, we declined and he said "No. Here." Chloe allowed him to carry them and he did aaaaaalll the way to the food court. We thanked him immensely and carried them into the lobby. And down past the checkin desk. And out the side door to bell services....ending up about 200 yards from where the man started carrying our bags. Look at the resort map to the Pop. You can see that we did one, gigantic circle. Ooops. I don't know why I forgot where the luggage service desk was. How could we forget being there at 2 a.m. three days ago?Luggage dropped off, we went to the food court to get a drink to go with our Cinnamon Rolls. Chloe went thru the line for chocolate milk and I just got a diet coke in my refillable mug *purchased fresh for this trip.* I saw the CM at the register speaking with Chloe while she made her purchase. We walked outside and found an umbrella table and sat. Chloe said that she had told the CM that she liked her pin and the CM said thank you and gave her a brand new Year of a Million Dreams pin. That was nice! Chloe was really happy.
As we were eating, it started to sprinkle just a little but the sky looked dark. We muddled around a bit, trying to decide what we should do. We decided that we didn't want to risk being human lightening rods at the minigolf and just head over to the Wilderness Lodge. Honestly, I think that we were looking for an excuse to go explore the great outdoors.
When I originally started planning this trip, it was to be a counterpart to my husband's annual Memorial Day camping trip. I booked the Wilderness Lodge so that someone in the family would continue the family "tradition" of camping for the holiday.
Chloe and I never really gave this place much thought. Actually, to be perfectly accurate, Chloe and I have every intention of falling short of staying at every single resort on Disney property because we would never stay at "Sports" or "Wilderness." I mean, come on. Nothing about either of those two words appeals to her (us).
How ironic is it that we're skipping today's daily itinerary to rush over to the wild outdoors? We caught the bus to Magic Kingdom, jumped out at the bus station and walked out to the docks to wait for the boat.
We made our way up the dock and into the lobby. I think that I heard a gasp from Chloe but I think that she'll deny it if you ask her. As I made eye contact with a CM, I said in my nicest, practiced "please upgrade me 'cuz I'm a great person in general and especially at Disney" voice that we were here to check in. It was taking a long time because the CM saw that there was something wrong with the package. The dining was not showing up on the reservation and she spent some time trying to get this worked out. I, of course, stayed calm, polite and smiley still hoping for a comp upgrade. I'm greedy. I know. I really was striving to give my DD and I the very best trip possilbe.
Chloe has disappeared with my camera. I missed spending this part of the trip with her because I was busy smiling at the CM behind the desk. Chloe had run off to take pictures of the lobby while I worked out the business at hand. She came back and a different CM asked her about her lanyard. Chloe was still sporting her original, purple Tinkerbell lanyard with two sets of identical pins. When the CM asked her if she wanted to trade, Chloe agreed and picked out a pin.
The CM at the Pop had given her a pin and now at the Wilderness Lodge another one offered to trade pins with her. Later on, Chloe confessed to me that she didn't realize that this is what the lanyard was for. She thought that it was just to hang around your neck and had no idea about pin trading at all. Too be fair, I must admit that I have successfully shielded my children from the whole pin trading phenomenon. When taking trips with THREE or FOUR children, I knew that this little hobby was one that I couldn't (well, didn't want to) support. With just one child to entertain on this trip, I really wanted to spoil her so I got her started with a lanyard. What she doesn't know is that I have been shopping Ebay for weeks at home and have a whole stash of pins that I plan to give her at various points this week.
The CM gets the reservation straight and we are given a card to call later on th check if our room is ready. We decide to grab some lunch while we wait. I get a Chicken salad and Chloe gets Chicken nuggets and the biggest brownie that I have ever seen.
The salad was disappointing but the view wasn't. Chloe and I were instantly flustered and in love with this place. Yes, you heard me. This is an amazing resort. Amazing.
It's raining but Chloe decides that this beautiful pool is too tempting and gets a little swim in while I make trips back and forth in to the phone to check to see if our room is ready.
Chlo's first trip down the slide:
We finally have a room and Chloe and I take the elevator upstairs. We get off the elevator and thru the hallway looking for our room. I start thinking (the way the room #s are going) that have been given a courtyard room and tell Chloe that. She shouts and we start running, trying to find our room. It's like an Easter Egg hunt and we're looking for the prize egg. We run all the way around the fifth floor and don't find our room. We reverse and run back the opposite direction looking for the room. There it is....on the opposite side of the big picture window looking out over the courtyard. Ok, so it's not a courtyard view room. We open the door and rush over to the window and open the curtains and see.....TREES. At the Wilderness Lodge. How ironic. I look to the left and off in the distance is the top of the Great Ceremonial House at the Polynesian. I can't see Magic Kingdom but I guess that it's way over to the left of where we are standing out of sight to us.
Chloe calls for bell services to bring us our luggage. We'd like to multitask and have the luggage delivered while we are out at the Animal Kingdom for our fun at Extra Magic Hours. Chloe rolls her eyes and announces (use your spoiled princess voice) "They won't bring the luggage unless we're in our room, MOM!!!" I tell her let them know that we will wait for the luggage and they should bring it up. She tells them and I decide to pass the time enjoying a good book.
I'm reading the section on the Wilderness Lodge and trying to figure out where in the lodge we are. PLEASE do not laugh but I don't know if this is the standard view that you get with a standard view room or if we have indeed been upgraded from standard to woods view.....yes, I see woods but are there better woods than others? All trees are equal, but some are more equal than others or so I've heard.
About five minutes later, there's a knock at the door and it's Bell Services! Cannot believe how fast that was. We ask the bellman "Which side of the resort is Magic Kingdom?" He says that it's straight ahead of us outside of the balcony and that we should have a perfect view of Wishes! Are you serious?! That's fantastic! I wonder if that's listed in my book and is that a standard view or a wood's view?
Next up: Not so magical Extra Magic Hours
princess_chloe
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2008
- Messages
- 38
i didn't gasp as we walked up, mom. i believe that was YOU. haha
that man carrying our suitcase was very nice. although my hercules muscles were doing a fine job, i appreciated the help. lol
the wilderness lodge is my favorite hotel that i have stayed in so far-everything about it was wonderful. the cast members were very nice, and the room was magnificently clean.
again, thank you for the trip mom, post more soon!
that man carrying our suitcase was very nice. although my hercules muscles were doing a fine job, i appreciated the help. lol
the wilderness lodge is my favorite hotel that i have stayed in so far-everything about it was wonderful. the cast members were very nice, and the room was magnificently clean.
again, thank you for the trip mom, post more soon!
Disney Brat
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 2,606
Great update!!! The WL looks amazing! Did you end up seeing wishes from the balcony??!!! Can't wait for more!
Sleeping*Beauty
Waiting For My Prince
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2007
- Messages
- 1,277
Great update!! Did you find out if you were upgraded??
You're back! I've been lurking around waiting for you! So excited to hear more of your trip with The Princess.
And, BTW, Chloe it's great when you pop in now and then to give us your $.02 worth too!
(In fact, I made my DGD13 read your sweet "thank you" post as an example of how appreciative she should be. She got teary and told me she was sorry she didn't tell me more often how much she appreciates our trips. 
Geez, I didn't mean to send her on a guilt trip...well...
)I've never even considered trying to write a TR. I'd never get it done! But I love reading everyone elses' so I really appreciate that you're taking the time to share your story with us.
WL looks really relaxing to me. And what a great room! Can't wait to hear if you really had a FW view!
disneydusted
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2008
- Messages
- 766
So glad you are back!! 
I have been checking every so often so it was a nice surprise to see an update! I agree, it is nice to hear Chloe add her thoughts. I keep hearing great things about WL, we might have to try it sometime!
I have been checking every so often so it was a nice surprise to see an update! I agree, it is nice to hear Chloe add her thoughts. I keep hearing great things about WL, we might have to try it sometime!
lauren_elizabeth
Disney World Lover
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2006
- Messages
- 3,223
The Wilderness Lodge pictures are beautiful! Seeing them makes me want to stay there even more now.
Can't wait for more!
Can't wait for more!
lauren_elizabeth
Disney World Lover
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2006
- Messages
- 3,223
WOOOO for Tower of Terror! I love how everyone is looking down at the floor by your feet
Donald is #1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2006
- Messages
- 6,922
Great update!
princess_chloe
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2008
- Messages
- 38
i didnt realize that the thing flying near my face and the random items hitting me in the head was a. your baggalini and b. the spare change coming out of it until this picture! lol that was nice of that guy to hold onto your bag for you..haha
Signing on!! I just found this TR and I love it. It is so awesome that you got to to this for your daughter and it is so nice that she apprieciates it too. I cannot wait until the day I can do it for my little girl too. HOW FUN!!! I am addicted to this TR now, so please don't make me wait too long for an update. 
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